Chris Ernst started her professional career at an interior landscaping business for six years before starting her own company, Trans-Plants Inc. in May 1986.
Trans-Plants is an interior landscaping business that provides tropical plants and planters lease, purchase, and maintenance options for commercial and residential customers. The company also provides holiday decorations and gifts for commercial customers. She employs eight employees.
“I have an associates degree from Purdue [University] in interior design but when I graduated I took the first job I could get and I loved it. I was on salary, working all the time anyway so I figured I could do it on my own. I started slow, worked two jobs getting it off the ground. After three years, I was able to just work it,” she said.
After several years of hard work, Ernst joined multiple organizations on the suggestions of friends. One such suggestion lead Ernst to NFIB a few years ago.
“I have found it educational. I’ve met many interesting people, and I need all the help I can get staying up on current issues,” Ernst said.
Ernst is ready for her next challenge: Gov. Holcomb’s 13-member Workforce Cabinet a newly formed board assigned with assessing and realigning workforce development programs and services in Indiana. She was elected to the cabinet after being nominated by Barbara Quandt Underwood, the NFIB Indiana state director.
The cabinet also plans on developing the state’s first career coaching and navigation program, and assessing career and technical education outcomes, according to Inside Indiana Business.
“It’s a little too early for me to know what I want to accomplish in the cabinet. The first meeting was quite intimidating for someone with a company as small as mine sitting around a table with all those heavy hitters,” she said.
As for the future of Trans-Plants, Ernst hopes she is able taper off her small business’ turnover.
“It’s difficult to move forward and grow when most of the time you’re training. It would make it possible to back away a little and enjoy all the free time most people think business owners have,” she says.
